THE Challenge Vieux Boucau triathlon ended in heartbreak for German athlete Mika Noodt.<br /><br />The 23-year-old led for almost the entire running stage before he was pipped to the finish line by Frenchman Mathis Margirier with less than a meter to go.<br /><br />After turning the final corner, Noodt initiated a final push as he powered down the home straight.<br /><br />With just a few steps to go, he looked over his shoulder to find Margirier hot on his heels.<br /><br />But before he could cross the finish line, the German "lost control" of his legs and fell to the floor.<br /><br />His rival then clinched the win dramatically while the crowd looked on in shock.<br /><br />After the race, Noodt said: "It’s insane, I gave everything but I lost control of my legs.<br /><br />"I’ve never experienced this – he was too fast, but that’s racing – I gave it everything I had!"<br /><br />Meanwhile, Margirier revealed he didn't think he would be able to get the win until the final stage of the race.<br /><br />He said: "It was really hard today. I wasn’t feeling good on the bike so in the middle of the bike, I was just waiting for the finish.<br /><br />"The first lap of the run was so hard, I had no energy. But when I saw Mika slowing down, in the last 10 meters I was second, but I could sprint and he couldn’t so I finished first!"<br /><br />Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee also took part in the inaugural Challenge Vieux Boucau, but he finished sixth.<br />
